With the DMK staging a walkout, the Tamil Nadu Assembly on Thursday passed a near-unanimous resolution to raise the water level in the Mullaperiyar dam to 152 feet after strengthening the baby dam, as per the Supreme Court order.
Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam said the people of the State were happy when the level touched the 142-foot mark on November 21 and expressed the House’s gratitude to the former Chief Minister, Jayalalithaa, and the State government for their efforts to bring it off.
While almost all other parties welcomed the resolution suggesting that the credit should be given to the farmers, political parties, and many others who fought for the cause over the years, the DMK staged a walkout.
The DMK deputy leader and former PWD Minister, Durai Murugan, said the credit should also go to the former Chief Ministers, M.G. Ramachandran and M. Karunanidhi, and their names should also find a mention in the resolution.
There was a heated argument between the AIADMK and the DMK, with both sides raising pointed questions. Mr. Durai Murugan said it was a long-drawn battle, and the victory was because of the spirit of co-operation.
While MGR was the first to take steps to strengthen the dam, Mr. Karunanidhi took legal action as well as measures to strengthen the dam. Ministers R. Vaithilingam and Sellur K. Raju said the credit should go only to Ms. Jayalalithaa.
The Chief Minister said it was Ms. Jayalalithaa’s legal acumen that won the case for Tamil Nadu in February 2006. When the Kerala Assembly passed an amendment a fortnight later, Ms. Jayalalithaa sought the help of the Congress-led UPA government. But the DMK, on coming to power in 2006, failed miserably on the issue, though it was part of the ruling coalition at the Centre.
After verbal exchanges, Leader of the House Natham R. Viswanathan asked the DMK not to politicise the issue and pass the resolution unanimously. But Mr. Durai Murugan said he opposed the resolution and wanted the names of MGR and Mr. Karunanidhi included in it.
“It is like someone asking pass marks after failing in the exams. Will anyone accept it,” the Chief Minister asked. Immediately, the DMK staged a walkout. Mohan Raj, deputy leader of the DMDK, the main Opposition party, assured the government of support to its efforts. The other parties also backed the resolution.
